Veteran Jesse Whitaker celebrates his 86th Birthday today.
Jesse Whitaker, born on February 8th, 1920 was a member of the legendary Pilgrim Travelers. Bariton Whitaker joined them in 1947. He was the one who kept the group together after Keith Barber and Kylo Turner left. Whitaker, James W. Alexander und George McCurn sang background while Lou Rawls took the lead parts and he also stayed with the group after Rawls left. When Kylo Turner formed the New Pilgrim Travelers in 1964, Whitaker left and also didn't join them again when James Wafer recorded with them.
James Whitaker didn't sing lead oftentimes, but his "I've Got A New Home" is one of the well known recordings the group did. He also is the lead singer of "Straight Street". When Rawls was with the Travelers, Whitaker began to share leadparts with him more often than he did before when Barber and Turner had been with the Pilgrim Travelers.
Source: Hayes & Laughton
The Pilgrim Travelers have been founded by Joe Johnson in Houston, Tex. in 1936. Their most famous lead singers have been Kylo Turner and Keith Barber. James W. Alexander, tenor, Jesse Whitaker, bariton, und Raphael Taylor, bass have been the background singers. Taylor was replaced by George McCurn in 1955.
When they settled to Los Angeles in the midd 40's Alexander became the manager of the group. The Pilgrim Travelers are one of the most successful quartets of the Specialty label and famous for their "walking rhythm". If you're listening to the songs of the Travelers, you got the feeling, they're walking while singing.
In 1948 one of their greatest hits has been "Mother Bowed". Some other known songs are "Jesus I'm Thankful" and "Jesus Met The Woman At The Well".
Sources: Ted Holland, Ray Funk, Anthony Heilbut
You'll find them on most of old Specialty compilations and on the CDs
- Pilgrim Travelers: "Walking Rhythm", Specialty CDCHD 463, ace, 1993
- Pilgrim Travelers: "Better Than That", Specialty CDCHD 564, ace, 1994
Bernd
Jesse Whitaker, born on February 8th, 1920 was a member of the legendary Pilgrim Travelers. Bariton Whitaker joined them in 1947. He was the one who kept the group together after Keith Barber and Kylo Turner left. Whitaker, James W. Alexander und George McCurn sang background while Lou Rawls took the lead parts and he also stayed with the group after Rawls left. When Kylo Turner formed the New Pilgrim Travelers in 1964, Whitaker left and also didn't join them again when James Wafer recorded with them.
James Whitaker didn't sing lead oftentimes, but his "I've Got A New Home" is one of the well known recordings the group did. He also is the lead singer of "Straight Street". When Rawls was with the Travelers, Whitaker began to share leadparts with him more often than he did before when Barber and Turner had been with the Pilgrim Travelers.
Source: Hayes & Laughton
The Pilgrim Travelers have been founded by Joe Johnson in Houston, Tex. in 1936. Their most famous lead singers have been Kylo Turner and Keith Barber. James W. Alexander, tenor, Jesse Whitaker, bariton, und Raphael Taylor, bass have been the background singers. Taylor was replaced by George McCurn in 1955.
When they settled to Los Angeles in the midd 40's Alexander became the manager of the group. The Pilgrim Travelers are one of the most successful quartets of the Specialty label and famous for their "walking rhythm". If you're listening to the songs of the Travelers, you got the feeling, they're walking while singing.
In 1948 one of their greatest hits has been "Mother Bowed". Some other known songs are "Jesus I'm Thankful" and "Jesus Met The Woman At The Well".
Sources: Ted Holland, Ray Funk, Anthony Heilbut
You'll find them on most of old Specialty compilations and on the CDs
- Pilgrim Travelers: "Walking Rhythm", Specialty CDCHD 463, ace, 1993
- Pilgrim Travelers: "Better Than That", Specialty CDCHD 564, ace, 1994
Bernd
